CEBU CITY – Aiming to further strengthen its fight against the still rampant use of illegal drugs, the office of the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) has urged local government units (LGUs) to enact an ordinance for the creation of an administrative board for drug-related public nuisance.

DDB Vice Chair Paul Oaminal made the appeal after finding out that despite the circular issued by the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) for the strengthening of local government’s support in the anti-drug campaign, a number of local councils have failed to enact such ordinance.

Oaminal explained that the said ordinance which is based under Section 52 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, urges cities or municipalities to create, through an ordinance, an administrative board hearing complaints regarding drug-related cases.

Under RA 9165, any place or premises used on two or more occasions as a site of unlawful sale or delivery of dangerous drugs may be declared a public nuisance.

Meanwhile, a Board Declaration, to be created under the said ordinance, will prohibit the conduct, operation, or maintenance of any illegal drug-related business or activity on premises where such public nuisance occurs.

The Cebu-based DDB official also revealed that one of the reasons why majority of LGUs have not yet declared their area as drug free is because they find it hard to comply with certain regulations, particularly Regulation No. 2, Series of 2007 issued by the DDB which requires the conduct of barangay drug-clearing operations in its Pre-Operation Phase.

Oaminal is set to visit regions in the Visayas and Mindanao next week to meet with local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine National Police personnel and push for the passage of the ordinance. The various Chiefs of Police in the provinces shall serve as the lead officer in the implementation of barangay drug-clearing operations.